Hello Clam Lake!
Whew! Mother Nature decided to up her game this week with us hitting the warmest temps of the season so far. Along with a few more downpours of rain, it has turned into a warm and muggy one. Something we really haven’t seen so far this summer.
BOOK CLUB RECAP – On Tuesday the 9th the Clam Lake Book Club met at Ransoms Place to discuss this month’s chosen book “The Secret Life of Sunflowers” by Marta Molnar. The meeting was well attended and enjoyed by all that participated. The next meeting will be Monday August 12th at the Elkhorn. August’s book will be “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt – a “Read with Jenna” selection.
MEETING REMINDER – The Clam Lake Community Club will be holding their monthly meeting on Thursday July 18th at 5:00. After the short meeting there will be a Pot Luck followed by some Clam Lake Style Bingo led by Master Bingo Caller Ace Griffaw. Time to come out and visit with neighbors and friends and find out what’s happening in the village. Hope to see you there!
ANNIVERSARY PARTY – On Saturday July 27th Ransoms Place will be hosting their annual Anniversary Party which will feature live music with Jake Rock, a Bean Bag Tournament and the ever popular all you can eat Flip Flop Chicken and sweet corn. Sounds like a good time! We wish them a Happy Anniversary!!!
ST. GEORGE CHAPEL – Mass is celebrated every Saturday at 6:00 pm at our historic “Chapel in the Pines” – St. George. We welcome all to spend some time in our log cabin chapel made from the forest that surrounds it.
ELK UPDATE – The winners of the 2024 Wisconsin Elk Hunt have been chosen. This year 12 tags have been allotted for Wisconsin and Native hunters. Eight tags have been assigned to the Clam Lake area with 4 going to Wisconsin resident hunters and the other 4 given to the tribes. This year marks the first hunt for the Black River Falls area with them receiving the remaining four tags. This hunt is only open to Wisconsin residents as the Black River Falls area is out of the ceded territory of the tribes.
ELK CALF REMINDER – I had a chance to catch up with Wildlife Biologist Josh Spiegel and revisit a topic I have written of the past. If you happen to see one cow with two calves this is not twins you are seeing. Elk are biologically not designed to successfully carry twins. (Consider them on a par with horses.) The success rate is one half of one percent with the only surviving twin calves having been born in Pennsylvania several years ago. If twins should happen to be conceived they, or the mother, will most likely die. So, what are you seeing? Elk have a unique way of caring for their calves by forming nursery groups. These groups can consist of one cow with two calves or more. Josh reported having seen as many as 7 being “babysat” by one lone cow. So, where are the other moms or mom? Elk can cover a space of one mile in about 5 minutes, according to Josh, so they can be close by or not. While their calves are being watched over, they take this time to eat and relax while they await their turn for daycare duty. Sounds like team work in nature! Good job elk!
Until next week…..
Pictured is an elk nursery group. (Photo taken by Randy Sersch of Clam Lake Guide and Taxidermy.)
